Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Franz Schubert with this captivating album, released on August 15, 2007, by harmonia mundi. This collection of chamber music masterpieces showcases Schubert's extraordinary compositional prowess and his ability to evoke deep emotions through his music.
The album opens with Schubert's renowned Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D. 821, a work originally composed for an arpeggione, a now-rare string instrument. The sonata's three movements—Allegro moderato, Adagio, and Allegretto—are performed with exquisite sensitivity and technical brilliance. Following this, the album presents arrangements by Queyras & Tharaud of songs from Schubert's famous song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin," including "Das Wandern" and "Ungeduld," which bring a vocal quality to the instrumental performances.
The album also features works by Alban Berg and Anton Webern, two influential composers of the 20th century. Berg's "4 Stücke, Op. 5" and Webern's "3 kleine Stücke, Op. 11" are performed with precision and nuance, highlighting the contrast between Schubert's romanticism and the modernist innovations of Berg and Webern.
Additionally, the album includes Schubert's Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Major, D. 384, a work that showcases the composer's early mastery of the sonata form. The sonata's three movements—Allegro molto, Andante, and Andante Vivace—are performed with a sense of joy and exuberance that is characteristic of Schubert's music.
The album concludes with two of Schubert's most beloved lieder, "Wiegenlied, D. 498" and "Nacht und Träume, D. 827," arranged for cello and piano by Queyras & Tharaud. These arrangements bring a new dimension to these familiar melodies, showcasing the versatility and expressiveness of the cello.
Throughout the album, the performances are marked by a deep understanding of the music and a commitment to bringing out its emotional resonance. The result is a collection of performances that are both technically impressive and deeply moving, offering a rich and rewarding listening experience for fans of classical music.
Vinylscout